Dighton police station plan needs to shrink its footprint

The new police station project has made more progress in the past four months than it has in the last two years, according to Selectmen Chairman Dean Cronin.

Jeffrey D. WagnerCorrespondent

DIGHTON — The new police station project has made more progress in the past four months than it has in the last two years, according to Selectmen Chairman Dean Cronin.

That said, it has encountered the first major roadblock in recent months: the original 7,020 square-foot blueprint is too big for the price.

“We are trying to figure out what size building we can get,” Cronin said at Wednesday’s selectmen meeting. “The original square-footage was too big and a little out of line. In fact a lot out of line.”

Cronin said when voters approved the new station the price per square foot was $240. That price has more than doubled to $500 per square foot.

He said a square-footage number will be proposed to the town and Cronin said he believes the station will still fit the town’s current and future needs.

Cronin said soil evaluations and drainage plans have been completed. The boundaries will soon be mapped out and the town’s Conservation Commission will also become involved, inspecting the property on Somerset Avenue. After that, construction bids will be solicited.

The police station project was approved by voters at the annual Town Meeting on June 12, 2012, and in a town referendum on Aug. 9 of that year.

The Dighton Assessor’s office has said the approximately $2.5 million new police station will mean an estimated tax increase for residents of about $14 per year per $100,000 of home valuation.

Town officials hope to have the new station operational by the end of 2015 at the latest.

Officials have said that this project is long overdue. The current station on Somerset Avenue was a former Department of Public Works garage.

Approximately 300 square feet of that station was removed recently, after it tested positive for toxic mold.